K&N's latest victim
 

I've been loving the new K&N CIA in MY01 C4 for the last 500 miles realizing I'm probably driving on borrowed time. I’m merging into traffic today when I lose power at 6K RPMs between 1st & 2nd gear. I roll to the shoulder (after almost being rear ended by a soccer mom gabbing on the cell) and see the PSM & ABS lights shining up at me. I restart the car and power is back. Call to my local indie to have the codes read (I didn’t realize at the time that the ABS & PSM lights were both part of K&N’s new CIA power package). After a few more miles the CEL comes on….naturally. (Now I’m wishing I got the EVO as I originally planned, because if something sounds to good to be true.......) I get back to the office to research the situation and find out the exact situation is happening to many people (if interested see thread below). Guess I’ll be calling K&N’s CS tomorrow to thank them for the extensive product testing. Seems lthe most likely fix is a new MAF & dry filter.
I don't know how many people here have these units but has anyone successfully fixed this problem by just cleaning the MAF?
If anyone has one of these on order I'd wait till they get the kinks/CELs/ABSs & PSMs worked out.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...9&page=4&pp=15

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...howtopic=10381

At the very least you should try to clean the MAF sensor before replacing it. An electrical contact cleaner or other zero residue cleaner should clean it right up. I suppose a switch to a non-oiled filter might be a good idea with our cars.

Damn...Im getting nervous since I just dropped one in. Where could I find a dry filter that will fit my K&N? (stupid question, what is a CEL?)

It's the "Check Engine Light "

I copied the wrong link - check out this thread from rennlist - I think on the last page someone gives a link to buy the paper filter for ~ $40.00.


http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...9&page=4&pp=15

It is possible that you over oiled the filter which can be bad for the MAF sensor. I would clean the MAF and put the stock filter back on and see what happens. If everything is OK then you can try the K&N again but only oil until it is PINK not RED.

Hope this helps.

I don't have the K & N system but I do have the EVO which uses the K & N cloth filter oiled. I had the same problem called my local indie and had him check it out and it said the MAF was bad. I had him reset the fault and I dove the car home cleaned out the MAF with the cleaner mentioned and that was 1K miles ago. It takes about 50-100 miles for the faults to show up again I did drive without the filter for a short 20 miles. All seems to be good now what I have noticed is the K & N filters are over oiled when you buy them and I believe this contributes to the MAF failures. I had a similar problem with my 2000 SL 500 which I installed a K & N filter on unfortunately I wasn't aware that you could clean the MAF so I had the unit replaced at a great cost to me. At that time the tech told me to clean the filter and lightly oil the filter this time. Never had a problem with that car as well. So I am two for two with the oiled filters taking out the MAF it could be just luck of the draw but I think this is the problem. I would suggest anyone putting a K & N filter on to clean it first and oil it lightly prior to installation. Good luck

...too much oil. Every K&N I buy (lots of them), I've cleaned then lightly oil b4 intalled.

So what should one use to clean the MAF?

electronics cleaner. Read the can, make sure it'll leave no residue and does not attack plastics.

A buddy of mine alwasy has 2 filters. He oils one and lets it sit for 1-2 days. Then he installs it in the car. No MAF problems ever with that config.

HTH

For what it's worth I spoke to the engineer of the 63 series about this problem and he has been extremely helpful. I am overnighting my MAF to them for testing and if bad they'll replace it. From talking to several other people who have had the ABS/PSM light combo and then the CEL, my MAF is toast. They are going to work through this problem, and he assured me they won't leave their customers hanging. According to him the amount of oil isn't causing this problem - I was going to buy one of the dry filter and said to save my money.
This is a PIA, but I'm impressed with the integrity of K&N.
BTW - I found it interesting he said the engineers @ K&N read these forums for the scuttlebutt regarding their products.

K&N fix
 

Fwiw my car is s/ced 99 c2 and one came with the kit the oiled version, My mech. said to wash it on delicate cycle and i did not probs withe the cel. I however got rid of it eventually for another issue, but the wash kept it from ruinning my maf.

I cleaned my MAF with a Air Blower and Since then I haven't had a problem with the new K&N - 2000 Miles - I enjoy the throttle response.

Found this link while looking around. Seems K&N has actually run tests with the MAF coated with oil from their filters and got 0 failures.:

http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/massair.htm